‘A lasting impact that continues to be felt’: Port Hope honours the late Jeff Lees with park renaming
By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt
Port Hopers will gather this weekend to honour former long-time councillor and volunteer Jeff Lees.
To pay tribute to Lees – who served on council alone for 25 years and also wore countless additional hats in the community over the years – the Municipality of Port Hope has announced Kinsmen Park will be renamed Jeff Lees Memorial Kinsmen Park.
A renaming ceremony is in the works for this Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. at the 40 Mill St. park.
The special ceremony will recognize Lees’ legacy and service as a former councillor and deputy mayor for Port Hope, said the municipality, in its announcement.
“Jeff Lees spent an extraordinary 25 years on municipal council,” noted the municipality.
But beyond this, he is remembered by many as a devoted servant and long-time volunteer in Port Hope.
Lees passed away suddenly on Jan. 4, 2026, at the age of 61, according to his obituary.
The causes, sports organizations, projects and fundraisers he spearheaded or contributed to and that were close to his heart were many over the years, including the Port Hope Kinsmen Club, which also sadly later folded in 2019 after more than six decades of service.
“His commitment to public service, community building and volunteerism left a lasting impact that continues to be felt throughout the municipality,” added Port Hope officials.
According to the municipality, the renaming ceremony is meant to offer family, friends, former colleagues, community partners, volunteers and residents a chance to come together to celebrate Lees’ “remarkable legacy and formally unveil the park’s new name.”
Lees last served on Port Hope council for the 2018-22 term and then ran in a hard-fought and close four-way election race for the last term of council but lost out to current Mayor Olena Hankivsky by just under 200 votes.
“As a life-long resident, Jeff took immense pride in his community and consistently placed the well-being of Port Hope residents at the forefront of all of his efforts and incredible volunteerism,” said Hankivsky, after his passing. “His dedication was not only professional but deeply personal, reflecting his love for the place he called home.”
Lees was also the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award for his volunteer and community contributions spanning three decades of service.
He dedicated most of his adult life to Port Hope and in service of his community, and not just on council, but through service clubs such as the Kinsmen and Port Hope Lions Club. From local arts and sports organizations to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Port Hope Heritage Business Improvement Area, these were only a few of the causes close to his heart over the years.
For many others in the community, seeing Lees sporting a big grin was a staple of tradition at Port Hope Canada Day celebrations or Santa Claus Parades, the Port Hope Fair or Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny, to name just a few more examples.
Those who knew him described Lees as a true pillar of the community – a supporter of all things Port Hope – and a man who ultimately cherished family and had an unwavering dedication to help others.
The renaming ceremony will serve as just one way the community has gathered to ensure Lees’ legacy lives on this year.
Earlier this year, two friends – Tracey McBride and Melony Gilmour – rallied to put on the first-ever “Angels in the Outfield – the Jeff Lees Memorial Baseball Tournament.”
Hosted at Alex Carruthers Memorial Park in Garden Hill, the fundraising tournament raised monies to support Port Hope Challenger Baseball and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Durham and Northumberland.
Gilmour also previously told the Independent these organizations were close to Lees’ heart and chosen by his family.
The inaugural edition of the tourney raised more than $4,660 with eight teams, local leaders, businesses and more coming together from across the Municipality of Port Hope and Cobourg to remember Lees, how he touched countless people’s lives and to ultimately honour his lifetime of service and dedication to community and giving back.
Plans are already in the works for a second tournament next year.
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